CVE-2020-9859
Apple Multiple Products Code Execution Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2020-9859 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple Multiple Products. Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS contain an unspecified vulnerability that may allow an application to execute code with kernel privileges. CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 0.17% (38.0th percentile), this vulnerability has a measurable probability of exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| apple | ipados | < 13.5.1 |
| apple | iphone os | < 13.5.1 |
| apple | mac os x | < 10.15.5 |
| apple | tvos | < 13.4.6 |
| apple | watchos | < 6.2.6 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://support.apple.com/HT211214(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-9859(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-415: Double Free
Double Free (CWE-415) is a memory corruption vulnerability that occurs when a program attempts to free the same memory region more than once. This can corrupt the memory allocator's internal data structures, potentially enabling an attacker to execute arbitrary code, cause denial of service, or gain elevated privileges. In kernel contexts, double free vulnerabilities are especially critical as they can allow applications to execute code with kernel-level privileges.
Learn more: CWE-415 — Double Free
Impact Analysis
CVE-2020-9859 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 (HIGH), indicating a high-severity threat. The vulnerability is exploitable locally with low attack complexity, requires low-level privileges, without user interaction. Successful exploitation can severely compromise data confidentiality, allow unauthorized modification of data and systems, and cause complete service disruption. Organizations running affected deployments face significant operational risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2020-9859 is confirmed as actively exploited through its listing in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score of 0.17% (38.0th percentile) indicates a measurable probability of exploitation. While not currently associated with known ransomware campaigns, the confirmed exploitation status demands immediate attention. Federal agencies were required to remediate this vulnerability by 2022-05-03 per CISA's binding operational directive.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately as mandated by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Verify that all instances of affected products (apple ipados (< 13.5.1), apple iphone os (< 13.5.1), apple mac os x (< 10.15.5), apple tvos (< 13.4.6), apple watchos (< 6.2.6)) have been updated to patched versions.
- If immediate patching is not possible, restrict local access on affected systems using access controls and least-privilege policies to limit exposure.
- Monitor systems for indicators of compromise, including unusual process activity, unexpected network connections, and unauthorized configuration changes.
- Review security logs and conduct threat hunting to determine if the vulnerability was exploited prior to patching.
Technical Details
CVE-2020-9859 affects Apple Multiple Products. A memory consumption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.5.1 and iPadOS 13.5.1, macOS Catalina 10.15.5 Supplemental Update, tvOS 13.4.6, watchOS 6.2.6. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The attack vector is local-based, meaning an attacker needs local access to the target system to exploit this vulnerability. The CVSS score of 7.8 reflects the combination of low exploitability and severe impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2020-9859 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2020-9859 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. The EPSS score of 0.17% (38.0th percentile) further indicates a measurable exploitation probability.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-9859?
CVE-2020-9859 affects Apple Multiple Products. Specifically affected products include: apple ipados (< 13.5.1), apple iphone os (< 13.5.1), apple mac os x (< 10.15.5), apple tvos (< 13.4.6), apple watchos (< 6.2.6).
How do I fix CVE-2020-9859?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Ensure all affected systems are updated to the latest patched versions. If patching is not immediately possible, implement host-level mitigations to limit exposure.
How severe is CVE-2020-9859?
CVE-2020-9859 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 (HIGH). This is a high-severity vulnerability that requires immediate attention and remediation.
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